Connecting means for two crossing cable strands of cable play systems

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a connecting means ( 1 ) for two crossing cable strands ( 2.1, 2.2 ) of cable play systems having a cloverleaf-shaped inner cable guide opening ( 5 ) in which, in a wraparound region ( 6 ), cable strands deflected by a wraparound angle ( 7 ) are fixed, wherein a height ( 3 ) of the connecting means is equal to or greater than a cable diameter ( 4 ) of the cable strands to be connected.

The invention relates to a connecting means for two crossing cablestrands of cable play systems having a cloverleaf-shaped inner cableguide opening in which, in a wraparound region, cable strands deflectedby a wraparound angle are fixed.

Connecting means for crossing cable strands of nets, particularly ofnets used in cable play systems for children, are known in the art. DE29 14 885 C2 describes a ring-shaped connecting means for crossing cablestrands, wherein the connecting means is curved inwardly in the cornersof the crossing cable strands to form a cross-like inner contour havingrounded outer ends and roundings at the inwardly curved portions so thata cloverleaf-like shape results. These connecting means, which are alsoreferred to as cloverleaf rings, are advantageous over a type ofconnection having partially press-fitted crossing points where eithersteel, s-shaped hooks or aluminium mouldings are used. With thesecloverleaf rings it is possible to achieve easy mounting and positioningas well as easy unfastening of the connection without any auxiliarymeans. In this way, individual cable elements may be replaced asnecessary without using heavy tools and without affecting the otherundamaged cable strand. The disadvantages of these so-called cloverleafrings are that a precise geometry within the net is required and thetensions within the cable strands have to be as equal as possible so asto guarantee that the crossing point of the two cable strands does notshift under direct load. The partly intended flexibility of the cablestrands may, in the case of a non-uniform load acting on the strands,disadvantageously lead to a change in the position of the cloverleafring in the cable wraparound region such that the one cable strand isbarely deformed by the cloverleaf ring any longer and may easily slipacross the other cable element when under load.

The object of the invention is to provide a connecting means whichcombines the advantages of a firm press-fitting, the immovability andthe quick mounting or dismounting of the so-called cloverleaf rings.Here, a shape should be found which effects a more precise deformationof the cable strands in the wraparound region and wherein the wraparoundregion is precisely fixed, if necessary through an additional element.

This object is achieved by means of a connecting means for two crossingcable strands of cable play systems having a cloverleaf-shaped innercable guide opening in which, in a wraparound region, the cable strandsdeflected by a wraparound angle can be fixed and which is characterisedin that a height of the connecting means is equal to or greater than acable diameter of the cable strands to be connected.

A greater height of the connecting means results in a greater wraparoundangle of the two cable strands thus increasing the friction between thecable strands and therefore also the durability of the connection point.

Advantageous further developments are given in the subclaims.

In one embodiment of the invention the height is the distance between anupper and lower edge of a wall against or on which the cable strandswhich can be guided out of the cable guide opening on both sides in anangled manner and in opposite directions are supported.

In a further embodiment the wall of the connecting means has holes. Thisadvantageously enables material to be saved without affecting thestability of the connecting means.

A further embodiment provides for the upper and lower edge of the wallon which the cable strands which can be guided out of the cable guideopening on both sides in an angled manner and in opposite directions aresupported to be formed as a supporting recess for the cable strands. Thesupporting recesses enable a secure, slip-proof fixing of theguided-through cable strands.

A further embodiment of the invention provides for the wall to have twoopposing bores perpendicular to the axis of the connecting means foraccommodating a pin. A pin, which is introduced into the bores betweenthe two cable strands immediately after threading the cable strands, oralso later, and which is orthogonal to the centre line of theconnection, precisely defines the wraparound region and ensures amaximum frictional adhesion between the cables and the connecting means.

In the known connecting means, which, in relation to the cable diameter,has a height of half the cable diameter, the cable strands are deflectedideally by 90°. A deflection in the opposite direction of the actualbending direction does not occur, however. The connecting means of theinvention, in contrast, is designed such that the cable is bent, priorto the actual change of direction, by up to 45° in the oppositedirection of the wraparound direction and, after a short straightdistance corresponding to approximately half the height of theconnecting means, is deflected by 180° in the wraparound region andthen, with a further bend of 45°, leaves the wraparound region. Thegreater the wraparound angle, the greater the friction between the cablestrands and thus the durability of the connection point of the two cablestrands.

The invention is explained in more detail and by way of example withreference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 a shows a sectional, schematic illustration of the connectingmeans of the invention having a wraparound angle of the cable strands of180°;

FIG. 1 b shows a schematic, perspective illustration of a connectionmeans of the invention having a wraparound angle of the cable strands of180°;

FIG. 2 a shows a sectional, schematic illustration of a connecting meansof the prior art having a wraparound angle of the cable strands of 90°;

FIG. 2 b shows a schematic, perspective illustration of a connectingmeans of the prior art having a wraparound angle of the cable strands of90°;

FIG. 3 a shows a schematic, perspective illustration of a connectingmeans of the invention having two cloverleaves angled upwardly anddownwardly, respectively;

FIG. 3 b shows a top view of the connecting means of FIG. 3 a;

FIG. 3 c shows a side view of the connecting means of FIG. 3 a;

FIG. 3 d shows a further side view of a connecting means of FIG. 3 a;

FIG. 4 a shows a schematic, perspective illustration of a connectingmeans having holes;

FIG. 4 b shows a top view of the connecting means of FIG. 4 a;

FIG. 4 c shows a side view of the connecting means of FIG. 4 a;

FIG. 4 d shows a sectional illustration of the connecting means of FIG.4 a;

and

FIG. 4 e shows a further sectional illustration of the connecting meansof FIG. 4 a.

FIG. 1 a shows a sectional view of a connecting means 1 of theinvention. In a cable guide opening 5 of the connecting means 1 thereare two crossing cable strands 2.1 and 2.2. A wall 8 of the connectingmeans 1 has a height 3. The cable strand 2.1 and the cable strand 2.2cross in a wraparound region 6. The wraparound angle 7 formed thereby isapproximately 180° so that in the wraparound region 6 close contactingis effected with strong frictional adheasion between the cable strand2.1 and the cable strand 2.2, which largely prevents slipping of thecable strands 2.1 and 2.2. This is due to the height 3 of the wall 8which forces the cable strands 2.1 and 2.2 into this wraparound angle 7.The height 3 of the wall 8 of the connecting means 1 is in this caseapproximately twice the cable diameter 4.

FIG. 1 b shows the connecting means 1 of the invention in a perspectiveillustration. The connecting means 1 has a cloverleaf-shapedcross-section. The cable strands 2.1 and 2.2 cross in the cable guideopening 5 and form a wraparound angle 7 of approximately 180° due to theheight 3 of the wall 8.

In FIG. 2 a and FIG. 2 b a connecting means 1 of the prior art isillustrated. The connecting means 1 is also cloverleaf-shaped and has aplanar shape. The height 3 of the wall 8 is considerably smaller thanthe cable diamter 4 so that a wraparound angle 7 of the cable strands2.1 and 2.2 of only approximately 90° forms, disadvantageously leadingto a smaller contacting surface of the cable strands 2.1 and 2.2 in thewraparound region 6, resulting in a considerably smaller frictionaladhesion of the cable strands 2.1 and 2.2.

In FIG. 3 a another embodiment of a further connecting means 1 of theinvention is illustrated perspectively. Two opposing cloverleaves 11.1and 11.3, and 11.2 and 11.4 are angled upwardly and downwardly,respectively, resulting in a height 3 which is larger than the cablediameter 4, thus advantageously obtaining a wraparound angle 7 ofapproximately 180° in the wraparound region 6 of the cable strands 2.1and 2.2.

In FIG. 3 b, FIG. 3 c and FIG. 3 d, this connecting means 1 isillustrated in a top view and in a side view. The top view of FIG. 3 bshows the cloverleaf-shaped cross-section with the opposing cloverleaves11.1 and 11.3, and 11.2 and 11.4. The cable strands 2.1 and 2.2, notshown here, are fixed in insertion recesses 12 of the cable guideopening 5.

In FIG. 4 a a further embodiment of the connecting means 1 of theinvention is illustrated perspectively.

Further views of this connecting means are illustrated in FIG. 4 b, FIG.4 c, FIG. 4 d and FIG. 4 e. This connecting means 1 has two opposingbores 10 in the wall 8 through which advantageously a pin, not shownhere, can be inserted and may serve as an additional fixing element forthe wraparound region 6. The pin is inserted through the one bore 10between the two cable strands 2.1 and 2.2 through the wraparound region6 into the second bore 10. Holes 9 result in a reduction of the mass ofthe connecting means 1 to relieve the connecting means 1 of masses notnecessary for ensuring the precise wrapping-around of the cable strands2.1 and 2.2. Both the cloverleaves 11.1 and 11.3 opposing each other inone plane and the cloverleaves 11.2 and 11.4 in a lower plane each havea supporting recess 13 within which the cable strands 2.1 and 2.2leading out of the insertion recesses 12 of the cloverleaves 11.1, 11.2,11.3 and 11.4 are precisely guided.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 Connecting means-   2.1 Cable strand-   2.2 Cable strand-   3 Height-   4 Cable diameter-   5 Cable guide opening-   6 Wraparound region-   7 Wraparound angle-   8 Wall-   9 Hole-   10 Bore-   11.1 Cloverleaf-   11.2 Cloverleaf-   11.3 Cloverleaf-   11.4 Cloverleaf-   12 Insertion recess-   13 Supporting recess

1. A connecting means for two crossing cable strands of cable playsystems having a cloverleaf-shaped inner cable guide opening (5) inwhich, in a wraparound region (6), the cable strands (2.1, 2.2)deflected by a wraparound angle (7) can be fixed, wherein a height (3)of the connecting means (1) is equal to or greater than a cable diameter(4) of the cable strands (2.1, 2.2) to be connected.
 2. A connectingmeans according to claim 1, wherein the height (3) is the distancebetween an upper and lower edge of a wall (8) on which the cable strands(2.1, 2.2) which can be guided out of the cable guide opening (5) onboth sides in an angled manner and in opposite directions are supported.3. A connecting means according to claim 1, wherein the upper and loweredge of the wall (8) on which the cable strands (2.1, 2.2) which can beguided out of the cable guide opening on both sides in an angled mannerand in opposite directions are supported are formed as a supportingrecess (13) for the cable strands (2.1, 2.2).
 4. A connecting meansaccording to claim 1, wherein the wall (8) has mass-reducing holes (9).5. A connecting means according to claim 1, wherein the wall (8) has twoopposing bores (10) perpendicular to the axis of the connecting means(1) for accommodating a pin.